Regurgitation Nightly

[anna3827]

Does anyone know if regurgitation can be caused by nerves. Luke is 2 1/2 years old. Starting in December he started to regurgitate his food at night (my last month of pregnancy). We thought the food was bad and change it. That didn't work. We started feeding him in the morning (1/2 his daily amount) and the rest at night around 6. He doesn't regurgitate until like midnight. He will wake up out of a deep sleep and go off to rid himself of the food and proceed to eat it.
When I had the baby in January we thought maybe it was his nerves and things would change since the baby was here. He got better for a few weeks only regurgitating 1-2 times (this is when my mom stayed with us and he got ALOT of attention). He is now back to doing it almost everyday. I am very worried about him but the weird thing is he doesn't do it during the day. Help!

 

[gmacleod]

Well, I dare say it is possible that's a contributing factor - but the answer is far more likely to be in his food, I think. What do you currently feed him (and previously, if he was vomitting that also)?

 

[anna3827]

I am currently feeding him IAMS, which he has eaten since he was a pup, I switched to Pedigree because he does like that. I feed him only dry food. I haven't had the nerve to try can since this started happening.

 

[Jan]

You need to feed a better food! Have a look at the ingredient list on the food you are feeding and then check out http://www.boxerworld.com/feeding/. This will give you and idea of what makes a good food.

 

[anna3827]

=( I will try new food again (better food). I guess feeding him this stuff for 2 years could cause a reaction now.

 

[courtney323]

Hi anna3827 -

Yes, most definitely get him on a better quality food. www.boxerworld.com/feeding has some great information on what to look for (and avoid!) in dry dog food.

Food allergies can develop at any time, so it's very possible for him to not have a problem with a particular food for 2 years, and suddenly develop a problem. In fact, that's what typically happens with lower quality foods that happen to be high in common allergens (corn, wheat, beet pulp).

Good luck

 

[gmacleod]

Yes, it could. In fact, the longer you feed it, the more likely it is to cause problems

Allergies are, in a few rare cases, things that show up immediately. But in the vast majority of cases, they're things that develop over time and with constant exposure. The surest way to develop an allergy to chicken (for example) is to eat it every single day for an extended period. So the advice given by nutritionists (human and canine) is to eat a wide variety of different foods, preferably from a young age.

Add to that, Iams is terrible nutrition, and you've got all the reasons in the world to give him a change

For those reasons, I'd suggest that you choose something that has a different main protein source from the Iams. If the formula you're feeding is chicken, then choose a lamb, beef, fish or vension based food (anything except chicken, basically) to feed him. And nothing has has nasty junk ingredients like by-products, corn, wheat, soy or beet pulp - because those are the most common causes of food-related problems there are (and are all in the Iams, btw ).

If you'd like some suggestions for a good alternative food, how about something like Timberwolf Organics, Merrick, Fromms Four Star, California Natural, Blue Buffalo or Natural Balance? Those are all very good quality foods that don't contain the sorts of ingredients that commonly cause problems for dog, and they come in a range of formulas that should certainly enable you to change the main meat source from whatever you're currently feeding

 

[anna3827]

THANK YOU!! I am on it. I didn't realize how unhealthy the dog food I have been giving my guy was. I feel so bad. I am looking into what is available in my area and I will be sure to read the ingredients.
(I am not as bad of a mother to my newborn, he gets fresh milk straight from the source)

 

[cooper'smom]

Food change experience

Cooper was on "bad" food (Nutro Max) when we got him at 10 months old... he was on it for years and had the same problems as your guy... regurgitated once a day usually (along with allergy problems). Once I started looking into it, and got on boxerworld, I realized how bad the food was!

So, we started him on Wellness Fish and Sweet Potato and all the problems have been solved! No allergies, crusty ears, regurgitating, etc... it's like he has been a new dog for the past 2 years! We recently switched to California Natural Herring and Potato and things have remained the same... both are good foods- California Natural has fewer ingredients (better) and is a little cheaper- that is why we switched. Give either of these a try!